Chisels and procedure for insertion of spinal implant in a spinal disc space

US7988693B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Inventors

• Erik O. Martz · Howell, US
• David Chow · West Chester, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 11, 2003
• Grant date: Aug 2, 2011
• Expiry date: Oct 21, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2310/00359
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A chisel with U.V-shaped, saw tooth or other shaped opposing blades is used to form channels in adjacent vertebrae. The chisel has a projection extending from at least one of the top and bottom surfaces to limit depth of penetration into the vertebrae. A guide member may be attached to the forward tip of the chisel to guide the chisel into the disc space to uniformly chisel both adjacent vertebrae simultaneously to form a channel in the vertebrae. The so formed channels serve as sa guide for a second chisel having no guide member. The second chisel, which may be a box chisel, is used to complete the channels to the desired depth to receive an associated implant, typically of cortical bone. Other embodiments are disclosed in which a two step box chisel has a retractable guide member for initially guiding the chisel as it forms partial channels in the vertebrae disc space. The guide member is then retracted and the channels formed to the desired depth. The chisels include guide member pins which serve to both limit the extension and retraction of the guide member and also to serve to limit the depth of penetration of the chisel, physically and visually. The guide member may be retrac…